I just finished getting my new Strat setup, my question is, the tech took off the trem bar and added 2 springs, 4 total...do I need to put a block in there or will the springs serve the same purpose?

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Just my opinion here of course but I think that really depends on what "purpose" that is you're trying to serve(?). If the tech added 2 springs to make it 4 that tells me the guitar only had 2 springs to begin with and regardless of whether the trem is floating or not, I think most folks would agree that 2 springs really isn't enough on a Strat. Now if by putting a "block in there" you mean putting a chunk of wood (or something) between the trem block and the body, again depends on what you're looking to accomplish. Some folks will just add the springs and tighten the trem claw all the way in to keep the trem plate flush with the body because they don't really use the trem at all. Others like to have a small block in there because they feel that it's conducive to better sustain or something but this still allows downward movement of the trem. Personally I like my trems to float and I use 4 springs with good heavy trem blocks...great sound, great feel, good sustain, etc..

Just depends on what you're looking to do.

Jim

I assume you wanted the tech to disable your trem?

I've never done a one then the other test on the same guitar, so I can't tell you if one sounds better than the other. But I have a few Strats with disabled trems. On one, i didnt even add extra springs. I just tightened up the claw all the way to really stretch out the exisitng 3 springs. This was more than enough to bring the bridge down hard onto the body and it doesn't move when I'm bending the strings. I do use a fairly light set of strings though - 9 to 46s. Heavier strings might need the extra springs.

On the other disabled strat, I did make up a hard wood block and placed it behind the sustain block. It's a tight fit and won't come out in a hurry.

Both Strats sound absolutely fine and the bridges don't move even under whole chord bending.

I think you get the tonal improvements of a strat set up with the tone block locked, by virtue of the fact that the whole bridge is sitting hard on the gtr top and all of the string vibration is going into the body. A floating trem has more limited vibration transfer through just the 6 screws and the leading edge of the bridge.

If you're happy with the guitar's performance and the bridge isn't pulling up when you bend strings, I'd say thanks to the Tech for a job well done, and leave it alone.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

The end result I was looking for was to remove the trem bar since I wouldn't be using it and have the bridge flush against the body. The tech told me putting in 2 extra springs (only came with 2) would be sufficient. I got it back and the intonation is perfect and the bridge is flush with the body, I just always hear people talk about putting in a block of wood or steel to "block" off the trem. Newbie here and first time Strat owner so thanks for all the info![/i]

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Every time this discussion comes up, I ask myself - "Why don't people who don't use the whammy bar just get a hardtail?". Really, wouldn't that be more to the point.? It's a bit like buying a convertible and trying to figure out a way to disable that feature.

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-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

They don't make the model Strat that I got in a hardtail as far as I know, that's why I couldn't get one. It took me almost 2 years to find a Daphne Blue Hwy 1 brand new so I was happy just to locate one!

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Good point. Enjoy!

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-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

My understanding is that (although this could be one of those myths) is that a good portion of the Strat sound is because of the tremelo assembly, affecting both tone and sustain, whether you use it or not. I don't know how true that is, the thing I think is you have only the Robert Cray model with like, what, two color choices and one configuration, pickup and hardware-wise. If you want to get a particular kind of Strat, you really don't have much of a choice regarding the tremelo bar. Which, since it's relatively easy to "disable" it (so to speak) anyway, is not a big deal.

My 2 cents. The hard tail is great if that's what you desire, but if you have a trem you can lock it down for a while or change it back to a floater at your discretion. Versatility is always a good thing.

Your Strat should be fine. I played my Strats for years with added springs and the trem flat on the deck with no issues.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.